Stapling apparatus



Jan. 8, 1946. J c LANG STAPLING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 30, 1942 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 u p 3 9 4 9 0 8 3 7 9 w i 4 n y 3 7 0 6 Z 3 w 5 H 5 7 5 7 7 n H 1 3 n 5 n w. M 5 5 a MW awn. .1 mwwm 2 4 B 7 B 7 a 1 1 J. c. LANG 2,392,327

STAPLI NG APPARATUS Filed Nov. 30, 1942 Jan. 8, 1946.

4 Sheets-Sheet 3 IV 45 I 12 Jig. B.

1 \Y r I'M-J 46 476 4 am Jan. 8, 1946. Q L 2,392,327

STAPLING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 50, 1942 4 Sheets-$heet 4 INVENTOR Patented Jan. 8, 1946 STAPLING APPARATUS Joseph C. Lang, Pittsburgh, Pa asslgnor to 'Bocil Corporation, a corporation of Delaware Application November 30, 1942, Serial No. 467,366

Claims.

This invention relates to the art of stapling and is for an apparatus wherein the legs of a staple may be caused to clinch by being deflected either outwardly or inwardly as the staple is being driven, and without requiring the use of any anvil or support for causing the legs to turn.

One objection to the use of staples for the closing of boxes and cartons arises from the fact that, when the conventional U-shaped staple is driven into the overlapping lifts or folds of a box or carton, it is necessary to have some metallic anvil inserted under the lifts, against which the points of the staple will hit and by which the legs of the staple will be deflected and clinched. It is apparent that this anvil must be withdrawn after the stapling operation has been completed, with the result that there is necessarily an opening where the anvil has been withdrawn. Moreover, where an anvil is used, the points of the staple must actually penetrate the innermost lift in order to engage the anvil and be deflected thereby.

It has heretofore been proposed to accomplish the clinching of the staples without the use of an anvil on the inside of the carton by modifying the shape of the staple in order to bend the bridge of the staple during the driving operation. and, in the bending of the bridge, to effect a clinching movement of the legs of the staple. But this has not been commercially satisfactory for the reason that, when the legs of the staple are caused to move through an arc in this manner, they tear through the paper or cardboard into which they are driven, substantially decreasing the holding power of the staple; and such staples, moreover, are loose after they have been driven and do not result in a satisfactory package. Other attempts to clinch the staple without using an anvil on the inside of the carton requires the use of elements that penetrate the box-top in advance of the staples and which, in efiect,

constitute anvils entered through the top of the material. This requires a relatively heavy staple in order to satisfactorily hold, and the operation results in the formation of perforations in the material alongside of the staple which weaken the holding power of the staple,

According to the present invention the legs of the staple are deflected as they enter the material so as to travel along a predetermined path. The bending of the legs of the staple is accomplished entirely before the legs penetrate the material, so that the points of the staple have no tearing action and the legs enter the material following a predetermined curve. Since there is no tearing of the paper or cardboard, the staple develops its full holding power. Moreover. the staple, when it is driven, is tight. This result is accomplished by interposing a guide under the staple driver and over the work, this guide or mask having curved slots therein of a dimension substantially equal to, or only slightly larger than. the thickness of the legs of the staple. If the legs of the staple pass through these slots, the metal is bent so that, in entering the paper or guide immediately under the guide, the points are already starting to turn inwardly. The legs travel in a predetermined curved path, and the curvature of the path and the depth of penetration can be very accurately controlled. For example, the staples may be driven entirely through the top lift of a carton and enter the bottom lift. The clinching will be completed in the bottom lift without the staples acually passing through the under face of the bottom lift. when the staple has been driven to a predetermined depth, the guiding means above referred to is entirely removed from engagement with the staple, allowing the cross-bar of the staple to be mashed down against the top of the box.

The invention may be employed in connection with ordinary straight-sided U-shaped staples or, by modification of the driving tool, it can be used in connection with specially formed staples. In my copending application, Serial No. 467,365 filed November 30, 1942 there is disclosed a modification of the present invention in which it is adapted to the driving of specially formed staples; and in another copending application, filed by me, Serial No. 467,367 filed November 30. 1942. such a special form of staple is fully described and claimed.

My invention may be more fully understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is in side elevation of one form of machine for practising my invention, this machine being illustrated as being a treadle-operated, box closing machine, using preformed. conventional staples:

Figure 2 is in side elevation of the upper part of the machine as shown in Figure 1, but showing the driver moved down into engagement with the top of the box which is to be stapled;

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2. showing the position of the parts at the conclusion of the staple-driving operation;

Figure 4 is a transverse vertical section through the staple guide, showing the driver in the elevated position which it occupies at the beginning of the driving stroke;

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 4, showing the staple partially driven, but with the guiding mask still in position;

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 5, showing the position of the parts after the mask has been retracted and with the driver at the lowermost limit of its movement, the staple then being driven and clinched;

Figure 7 is a side elevation on a larger scale and partly in section of the driving mechanism itself, the driver being in its uppermost position;

Figure B is a view similar to Figure "l, with the driver part way down;

Figure 9 is a view similar to Figure '7, with the driver all the way down;

Figure 10 is a front elevation on a larger scale of the guide or mask, the concentric circles indicating the manner by which the proper curvature of the slots is carried;

Figure 11 shows a modification in which the legs of the staple are turned outwardly instead of inwardly;

Figure 12 is a detailed view of the mask or guide through which the outward curvature of the legs is secured;

Figure 13 is a horizontal section in substantially the plane of line XIII-XIII of Figure 7;

Figure 14 is a partial vertical section in the plane of line XIV-XIV of Figure '7; and

Figure 15 is a transverse vertical section in the plane of line XVXV of Figure 7.

Referring first to Figure 1, 2 designates a base member having a column and pedestal 3 thereon. Adjustably carried on the column 3 is a horizontally extending arm 4. The outer end of this arm is provided with a clamp, through which a post 5 passes, the clamp enabling the post to be adjustably secured in any desired position. At the top of the post i is a platform 6, upon which the box to be stapled, and indicated generally as B, is set. The platform 5 may have guides or lugs I thereon, to aid in positioning the box on the platform so that a succession of boxes of uniform size ma be rapidly stapled.

At the top of the post 3 is a bracket 8, which pivotally supports a lever, designated generally as 9, the pivot point for the lever being the pin N, which passes through the bracket. The rear end of the lever, designated 9', is pivotally connected at H with the upper end of a link l2. The lower end of the link I: is pivotall connected at I: with the rear end ll of a foot lever or treadle II, which treadle is pivotally supported on the base at IS. A spring It serves to normally lift the treadle and return the parts to a normal position after the operator has stepped on the treadle to drive a staple.

The stapling device comprises a pair of side plates I! on the inner faces of which are secured smaller thin plates which have forward extensions to support a block 200. As shown in Figure 14, the lower edges of these plates 20 overhang the top of the staple uide. Forwardly of the block 2lo the side plates are provided with vertical channels 2| constituting guides for the staple driver, the lower portions of these channels also providing the stapling guide in which a staple is guided as it is driven. The driver, designated 22, is shown, in the particular embodiment illustrated, as having rabbetted edges, with the channels 2| correspondingly shaped, but this is not important. The top of the driver extends above the top of the plates is and has its upper end secured to a. cross block or head 23. Also attached to the head 23 is a U-shaped member 24 which embraces the forward portions of the two plates l9 and which has inwardly turned lips 25 thereon which are guided in grooves 26 in the exterior of the plates 19. This U-shaped member slides up and down with the driver. There are links 21 pivotally secured at 28 to the head member 23 and the U-shaped member 24, and the lower ends of these links are pivotally connected at 29 with parallel arms 8a forming the forward part oi the lever 9. Through these links the lever 8 serves to transmit a vertical reciprocating motion to the driver.

Depending from the cross head 23 is an abutment pin 30. A compression spring 3| ls confined between the pin 30 and a stud 32 on the block 20a. This spring is compressed on the downward stroke of the driver and aids in returning the driver to its elevated position after a staple has been driven, as best shown in Figures 13 and 15.

So much of the structure as has heretofore been described is essentiall known to the art and forms no part per se of the present invention. The top of the bar I! serves as a support for a row of staples designated X and a parallel guide or plates 33 is secured to each side of the arm or bar ll, these plates having inwardly turned flanges 33s at the top edges thereof. As shown in Figure 15, the upper part of the bar I1 is of reduced width so that there is a staple-receiving space between the guide plates 33 and the reduced part of the bar H. The flanges 33a prevent the staples from lifting off the bar or becoming displaced and there is a follower 84 which slides along the reduced upper part of the bar II. This follower is urged toward the left as viewed in the drawings by means of a flexible tape that is part of a coil spring tension mechanism 36 mounted between plates ID. This general arrangement, including the follower, is also well known to those skilled in the art and forms no part of the invention per se.

The side plates I9, as best shown in Figure 14, have recesses l9 along the inner faces thereof forwardly of the guide strips 33 to provide channels along which the staples move from the end of the bar H to the staple guide.

The forward end of the bar I! is provided with an axially extending hole 31. Fitted into this hole so as to have a sliding flt therein, is a sleeve 38. On the forward end of the sleeve 38 there is secured a pressure block or movable staple support 39. A compression spring I inside the hole 31 and inside the sleeve 38 tends to urge this pressure block toward the left as viewed in Figure 8. The pressure block, however, may slide toward the right against the compression of spring 40. The pressure block is of a width equal to the spread between the legs of the staple and it has a. downwardly and outwardly sloped forward face or nose 38a. Normally, the pressure block has the position shown in Figure '7, where it projects outwardly against small studs I carried on the forward edges of the side plate so that it projects across the path of the staple that ha to be driven but the top of the curved nose portion terminates inside the staple guide. As shown in Figures 4 and 'l, the staple which is in position to be driven has the legs thereof extending down at each side of the pressure block 39 while the crown of the staple is just over the top of the cam or curved surface 391:. The primary purpose of this block is to prevent a staple from failing freely down and The pin and the slot serve to retain the plate 42 in place on the underside of the staple driver while permitting the plate to slide back and forth, the range of movement being limited by the length of the slot 44.

The bottom plate 42 has a forwardly extending lip or projection 40. This lip has two slots formed therein extending inwardly from the free outer edge of the lip. These two slots are spaced apart a distance equal to the spread of the legs of the staple. The slots are designated 41 and they register with the lower end of the staple guide. The slot have a width which is Just about equal to the thickness of the legs of the staple and they have a curvature which coincides to the arc of a circle whose diameter is equal to the spread of the staple and the top surface of the lip 46 coincides with the diameter of such a circle. In other words, the slots 41, as best shown in Figure 10, are kerf produced by the action of a tubular cutter, indicated in broken lines and designated C, which is advanced endwise against the lip 46 with the plane of the top surface of the lip coinciding with the horizontal diameter of the cutter, and th width of the tongue formed between the two kerfs or slots 41 is equal to the spread between the legs of the staple. The width of the kerfs. as before stated, is substantially equal to or only very slightlv greater than the thickness of the material from which the legs of the staple are made.

The plate 42 with its forwardly extending lip 46 and the slots 41 form what I term a "masking" plate or "masking guide and the slots are so positioned that when a staple is driven, the ends of the legs at the staple enter the kerfs 41. The very slight curvature of the kerfs deflects the legs of the staple. With the kerfs out as shown in Figure 10 the two legs of the staple are curved inwardly and progressively bend to the arc of a circle corresponding to the circle C as the staple is driven. The inner surfaces of the kerfs, designated 41a, are of equal importance with the outer surface. designated 4"), in controlling the curvature of the legs. If only the surface 41b were provided the legs would be deflected inwardly but the curvature would become increasingly flat, tending to squash the staple down instead of tending to cause the legs to move in a truly circular path. If only the curved surfaces 41a were provided, of course the legs of the staple would not be deflected inwardly at all. Therefore, it is necessary in order to obtain a satisfactory clinching of the staple, that the legs be guided between the sides of a keri' and best results are obtained when the kerfs have a curvature substantially corresponding to that indicated.

Instead of th kerfs converging they may have a similar curvature but diverge, as shown in Figure 12, where the masking plate is also designated 46 and the kerfs which are turned in the opposite direction from those of Figure 10 are designated 4!. With this arrangement the legs of the staple are curved outwardly as shown in Figure l 1, which will be hereinafter more fully described.

It will be seen that with the masking plate formed in this way, the portion of the tongue which lies between the two kerfs is in the line of travel of the crown of the pie. Consequently, the masking plate is retracted Just as the crown of the stapl reaches the plane of the top of the masking plate. This retracting movement of the masking plate can be accomplished in several different ways. In my copending application, Berial No. 467,365, filed November 30, 1942, an arrangement is shown whereby the downward movement of the staple earns the masking plate back. In the mechanism illustrated in the present application, the masking plate is moved through a linkage. This linkage mechanism comprises a metal tape or strip 49 attached to the masking plate 42 and extending under the bar I] to a slid member 50 which is on the bar ll. A spring ll tends to urge the slide toward the left as viewed in Figure 1. One link I2 of a toggle lever system is connected to the slide III and the other end of the link is connected witha second link 53 which is pivotally secured to the arm I! at 54. The arm 9 is provided with an adjustabl abutment 55. The arrangement is such that when the arm 9 moves relatively to the arm H the abutment 55 will engage the toggle lever 53, tending to flatten out the two links 52-53, thus moving the slide Ml to the right as viewed in Figure l, and correspondingly move the masking plate sufliciently for the mask to be withdrawn from between the legs of the staple, whereupon the masking device will be entirely clear of the crown of the staple and the staple can be driven down into the material. By having the abutment 5! adjustable. the exact instant at which the mask will be withdrawn from under the crown of the staple can be very accurately controlled.

In the operation of the machine, a box to he stapled is placed on the platform 6 with the flaps or lifts folded down in position to b stapled. The tcnsioning device operating on the follower 34 urges the row of staples toward the left and the endmost staple at the left is positioned under the driver. When the operator steps on the treadle H the driver as a unit moves from the position shown in Figur l to the position shown in Figure 2 where the masking plate 42 contacts the top of the box and a limit stop hereinafter described prevents further downward movement of the driver unit. Further downward movement of the treadle causes the arm 9 to continue to move down, whereupon the links 21 force the driver down to engage the staple which is in the guideway. As this staple is carried down it cams the pressure block 39 back. When the points of the staple enter the slots or kerfs 41 the kerfs start to bend the points and, as the driving operation continues, the legs are progressively curved. The operation of driving is 'best shown in Figures 4, 5 and 6, where B and B are the upper and lower lifts of the box. In Figure 4 the staple is in the starting position; in Figure 5 it has been driven to a point where the crown of the staple is down against the top of the mask and it will be seen that the staple legs follow a curved path into the material so that they are partially clinched. When the staple has progressed to the position shown in Figure 5 the abutment 5i, pressing on the toggle lever mechanism 52-53, operates to retract the mask. and the driver then completes the driving of the staple as shown in Figure 6, pressing the crown of the staple tight against the surface of the work, and in this additional pressing operation. the leg of the staple are completely clinched and may overlap or pass one another. It will be seen that with this arrangement the staple is driven tightly into the material, 1. e. the crown of the staple is pressed down onto the upper lift of the box. The legs are clinched within the lower lift of the material but they do not pass through the lower lift. The staple legs penetrate the material in a truly arcuate path and there is no tearing of the material by the movement of the legs to a clinched position after they have been driven, as is the case with many staples which are clinched by pressure applied entirely from the top of the staple. Moreover, there is no neoessity for piercing in advance the material into which the staple is driven as there are no claws or prongs that have to penetrate the material to provide an anvil for the legs of th staple and no anvil is required under the overlying lifts of the box. In order that a proper driving pressure can be exerted against the top of the box without actually flexing the top of the box inwardly a bracket 56 at the top of the post or collumn 3 is provided with an adjustable bolt or set screw 51, the upper end of which is in the path of travel of the arm ll, the set screw constituting a limit stop. When this arm contacts the end of the bolt 51 further downward pressure, exerted through the driving of the staple, is utilized entirely in the operation of the driver and no pressure is put on the box sufllcient to bend or flex the top of the box inwardly. The set screw is adjusted to exactly limit the downward movement of the arm II to the level on the top of the box.

As illustrated in Figures 11 and 12, the mask may be designed to deflect the legs of the staple outwardly instead of inwardly. In Figure 11, B and B also indicate the overlying flaps or lifts of the box and the staple which is of conventional form has the legs deflected outwardly on an arcuate path rather than inwardly. The operation of driving is the same in either case. In some cases more effective holding may be obtained by spreading the legs outwardly, than inwardly.

The machine uses ordinary straight-legged staples. As shown in the drawings, the staples are of the conventional form but the machine may be modified; as disclosed in my copending application Serial No. 467,365 filed November 30, 1942, to operate on a specially formed staple in which the crown is longer than the spread between the two legs, whieh is a preferred form of staple for box closing because of the greater area which a staple of a given leg span will cover. It is also apparent that the machine can be adapted to th driving of staples of various other shapes than the particular forms referred to. The important feature of the present invention is the provision of a masking means having a kerf or slot for each leg of the staple so arranged as to guide the leg of the staple in a predetermined arcuate path into the material with the withdrawal of the masking means in the final stages of driving. The guiding or masking means directs the points of the staple into the material at a proper curvature to secure the penetration of the material by the points of the staple and to cause clinching according to a predetermined pattern and th staples cannot prematurely squash or flatten down. Moreover, the staples do not have to be bent to any special curvature or shape b' ore they are driven and the staples can be driven either into soft or hard fiber board or into other materials in connection with which asaasar staples are used with uniformly satisfactory results.

In the driving or the staple, it will be seen that the legs 01' the staple are progressively turned by the masking means until the crown of the staple approaches the surface of the mask. Then the mask is withdrawn and in the final thrust of the driver the legs of the staple are forced straight down, while the curved terminals, being guided in the material into which the staple is driven. are thrust toward each other in a final eflfective clinching operation.

The mask which has been illustrated is 01' simple form, but it may be constructed in various ways to provide an arrangement in which the legs are guided in curved slots or kerfs in the greater part or the driving operation, and the masking means then withdraws to permit the final clinching operation.

While I have illustrated and described one specific apparatus for accomplishing my invention, it will be understood that this is by way at illustration and that various changes and modifications may be made within the contemplation of my invention and under the scope oi the appended claims.

I claim: 7

1. A stapling device of the class described comprising a staple driving mechanism, means under the staple driving mechanism and over the work piece into which the staple is to be driven with open-ended slots therein for guiding the staple legs during a portion or the time the staple is penetrating the material into which it is driven and means for withdrawing said last named means after the stapl has been partially driven, said slots being curved with respect to the direction in which the staple is being driven for bending the legs of the staple.

2. A stapling device of the class described comprising a staple driving mechanism, means under the staple driving mechanism with open-ended slots therein for guiding the staple legs during a portion of the time the staple is penetrating the material into which it is driven, and means for withdrawing said last named means relatively to the driver in a plane transverse to the direction of movement of the driver after the staple has been partially driven, said slots being curved with respect to the direction in which the staple is being driven for bending the legs of the staple,

the taps of the said slots being spaced apart equal to the width of the staple, the bottoms of the slots due to the curvature being offset with respect to the top thereof.

3. A stapling device of the class described comprising a staple driving mechanism, means under the staple driving mechanism with open-ended slots therein for guiding the staple legs during a portion of the time the staple is penetrating the material into which it is driven, and means for withdrawing said last named means after the staple has been partially driven, said slots being curved with respect to the direction in which the staple is being driven for bending the legs of the staple, the tops of the said slots being spaced apart equal to the width of the staple, the bottoms of the slots due to the curvature being oflset with respect to the top thereof, the curvature corresponding substantially to the arc of a circle whose diameter is equal to the distance between the legs of the staple.

4. A stapling device of the class described comprising a staple driving mechanism, means under the staple driving mechanism and over the work piece into which the staple is to be driven with open-ended slots therein for guiding the staple legs during a portion the time the staple is penetrating the material into which it is driven, and means for withdrawing said last named means after the staple has been partially driven, said slots being curved with respect to the direction in which the staple is being driven for bending the legs of the staple, the width oi the slots being approximately to same as the width of the legs of the staple.

5. A stapling device of the class described comprising a staple driving mechanism for driving a staple having straight legs, masking means under the driving mechanism, said masking means having an open-ended slot therethrough the top of which is normally in line with a staple being driven by said mechanism whereby the leg of the staple must pass through said slot, and means for effecting movement of the masking means relative to the driver in a plane transverse to the direction of movement of the driven for withdrawing the masking means from engagement with the staple after the staple has been partially driven, said slot being curved to deflect the leg of th staple as it passes therethrough.

6. A stapling device of the class described comprising a staple driving mechanism for driving a staple having straight legs, a masking means under the driving mechanism movable relatively to the driver in a plane transverse to the direction in which the staple is driven, said masking means having slots therein which are normally in line with the legs of the staple, the space between the slots being equal to the spread 01 the staple, the slots being curved in the direction in which the legs of the staple are driven for bending the legs of the staple before they enter the material into which the staple is driven, and means for moving the masking means clear of the staple after the staple has been partially driven.

'l. A staplin device oi the class described comprising a staple driving mechanism for driving a staple having straight legs, a masking means under the driving mechanism movable relatively to the driver in a plane transverse to the direction in which the staple is driven, said masking meam having slots therein which are normally in line with the legs of the staple, the space between the slots being equal to the spread of the staple, the slots being curved in the direction in which the legs of the staple are driven for bending the legs of the staple before they enter the material into which the staple is driven, and means for moving the masking means clear of the staple after the staple has been partially driven.

8. A stapling device of the class described comprising a staple driving mechanism for driving a staple having straight legs, a masking means under the driving mechanism movable relatively to the driver in a plane transverse to the direction in which the staple is driven, said masking means having slots therein which are normally in line with the legs of the staple, the space between the slots being equal to the spread of the staple, the slots being curved in the direction in which the legs of the staple are driven for i bending the legs of the staple before they enter the material into which the staple is driven, and means for moving the masking means clear of the crown of the staple.

9. A stapling device of the class described comprising a staple driving mechanism for driving a staple having straight legs, a. masking means under the driving mechanism movable in a plane transverse to the direction in which the staple is driven, said masking means having slots therein which are normally in line with the legs or the staple, the space between the slots being equal to the spread of the staple, the slots being curved in the direction in which the legs of the staple are driven for bending the legs of the staple before they enter the material into which the staple is driven, means for moving the masking means clear of the crown of the staple, and means for operating said last named means in timed relation to the travel of the staple.

10. A stapling device of the class described comprising a staple driving mechanism for driving a staple having straight legs, a guide plate under the staple driving mechanism movable back and forth in a plane which is transverse to the plane in which the staple is driven. said guide plate having open ended slots therein the spacing of which corresponds to the spacing of the legs of the staple, and means for moving the guide plate relatively to the driving mechanism whereby the plate may be moved from a position where the slots are in line to receive the points oi a staple being driven to a position where the staple is clear of the guide plate, said slots being curved in the direction in which the staple is driven and having a width only slightly greater than the width of the legs oi the staple.

11. A stapling device or the class described comprising a staple driving mechanism for driving a staple having straight legs. a guide plate movably mounted on the underside of the driving mechanism having an open-ended guide slot therein, said plate being movable from a position where the slot is in line with a leg of the staple to a position where the slot is clear of the leg of the staple whereby one leg of the staple in being driven will pass through said slot, said slot being curved in the direction of travel of the staple. and means for moving the plate.

12. A stapling device oi the class described comprising a staple driving mechanism for driving a staple having straight legs, a guide plate movable back and forth under the staple driving mechanism in a plane transverse to the direction in which the staple is driven, said guide plate having open ended slots therein the spacing of which is equal to the spread of the staple and the width of which is substantially equal to the thickness of the leg of the staple, means for moving the guide plate from a position where the slots are in line with the legs of a staple being driven to a position clear of the staple, said slots being curved in the direction in which the staple is driven to progressively curve the legs of the stable as they pass therethrough.

13. A stapling device of the class described comprising a staple driving mechanism for driving a sta le having straight le s, a guide plate movable back and forth under the staple driving mechanism in a plane transverse to the direction in which the staple is driven, said guide plate having open-ended slots therein the spacing of which is equal to the spread of the staple and t e width oi which is substantially equal to the thickness of the leg of the staple, means for moving the guide plate from a position where the slots are in line with the legs of a staple bein driven to a position clear of the staple, said slots being curved in the direction in which the staple is driven to progressively curve the legs of the staple as they pass therethrough, the curvature corresponding substantially to sections of a circle whose diameter is equal to the spread oi the staple and with the top oi the guide plate in the plane of a diameter oi such a circle.

14. In a staple driving mechanism, a guide plate through which the leg of a staple being driven passes, said plate being in a plane normal to the direction in which the staple is driven. the guide plate having a slot therein for curving the leg of the staple as it passes through the guide plate, the slot having a width only slightly greater than the thickness of the leg of the staple and having a curvature which corresponds to a part of the are of a circle whose diameter is approximately that oi the spread of the staple whereby the leg is deflected in a substantially semi-circular path as it penetrates the material.

15. The combination with a staple driver oi a movable guide member under the driver adapted to contact the work into which the staple is driven. said guide plate having curved slots therein through which the legs of the staple being driven must pass before entering the work, and means for eiiecting the movement of the guide member relative to the driver out of engagement with the staple after the staple has been partially driven.

16. The combination with a staple driving mechanism having a driver and an open-ended guide through which the staple is driven into the work, of guiding means movable over said first guide and having curved slots therein through which the legs of the staple are projected when a staple is being driven. and means for withdrawing the guiding means after the greater portion of the staple has been driven.

1'1. The combination with a staple driving mechanism having a driver and an open-ended guide through which the staple is driven into the work, of guiding means movable over said first guide and having curved slots therein through which the legs of the staple are projected when a staple is being driven, and means for withdrawaseasav ing the guiding means after the greater portion or the staple has been driven. said guiding means being arranged to contact the material into which the staple is driven.

18. Climbing means for a stapling machine comprising a member supported under said machine and having an open-ended keri therein positioned to guide the leg of a staple as it emerges from the driver, said her! being curved in the direction or movement of the staple to bend the same. and means tor movably holding said member in position under the stapling machine so that it may be withdrawn from engagement with the staple after the staple has been partially driven, said member being movablein a direction lengthwise ot the slot and transversely of the long axis of the staple.

19. stapling means comprising a stapling mechanism with a staple chute and driver, means under the stapling means having a central tongue portion and an open-ended slot at each side 01 the tongue, the slots being curved in the direction of travel of the staple and being spaced to receive the legs of a staple being driven from the chute, and means for moving the tongue portion in a direction lengthwise oi the slots from under the crown oi the staple after the staple has been partially driven and before the driving has been completed.

20. A- stapling device 01 the class described comprising a staple driving mechanism, and means under the staple driving mechanism and over the work piece into which the staple is to be driven, said means having open-ended slots therein for guiding the legs of the staple during a portion oi the time the staple is penetratin the material into which it is driven, said slots being curved with respect to the direction in which the staple is being driven for bending the legs of the staple before they enter the work piece.

lrosnrn c. LANG.

Certificate of Correction Patent No. 2,392,327.

January 8, 1946.

JOSEPH O. LANG It is hereby certified that errors appear in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 3, first column, line 54, for surface read swY'aces page 4, second column, line 34, claim 1, after driven" insert a comma; line 52,

c aim 2 for taps read tops' e 5 first column line 10 claim 4 for "to before same" load the; line 22, clainl t ior driven read driver; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with these corrections therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Oifice.

Signed and sealed this 7th day of May, A. D. 1946.

sun]

LESLIE FRAZER,

First Assistant Commissioner of Patents.

whose diameter is equal to the spread oi the staple and with the top oi the guide plate in the plane of a diameter oi such a circle.

14. In a staple driving mechanism, a guide plate through which the leg of a staple being driven passes, said plate being in a plane normal to the direction in which the staple is driven. the guide plate having a slot therein for curving the leg of the staple as it passes through the guide plate, the slot having a width only slightly greater than the thickness of the leg of the staple and having a curvature which corresponds to a part of the are of a circle whose diameter is approximately that oi the spread of the staple whereby the leg is deflected in a substantially semi-circular path as it penetrates the material.

15. The combination with a staple driver oi a movable guide member under the driver adapted to contact the work into which the staple is driven. said guide plate having curved slots therein through which the legs of the staple being driven must pass before entering the work, and means for eiiecting the movement of the guide member relative to the driver out of engagement with the staple after the staple has been partially driven.

16. The combination with a staple driving mechanism having a driver and an open-ended guide through which the staple is driven into the work, of guiding means movable over said first guide and having curved slots therein through which the legs of the staple are projected when a staple is being driven. and means for withdrawing the guiding means after the greater portion of the staple has been driven.

1'1. The combination with a staple driving mechanism having a driver and an open-ended guide through which the staple is driven into the work, of guiding means movable over said first guide and having curved slots therein through which the legs of the staple are projected when a staple is being driven, and means for withdraw- Certificate Patent No. 2,392,327.

aseasav ing the guiding means after the greater portion or the staple has been driven. said guiding means being arranged to contact the material into which the staple is driven.

18. clinching means for a stapling machine comprising a member supported under said machine and having an open-ended keri therein positioned to guide the leg of a staple as it emerges from the driver, said her! being curved in the direction or movement of the staple to bend the same. and means tor movably holding said member in position under the stapling machine so that it may be withdrawn from engagement with the staple after the staple has been partially driven, said member being movablein a direction lengthwise ot the slot and transversely of the long axis of the staple.

19. stapling means comprising a stapling mechanism with a staple chute and driver, means under the stapling means having a central tongue portion and an open-ended slot at each side 01 the tongue, the slots being curved in the direction of travel of the staple and being spaced to receive the legs of a staple being driven from the chute, and means for moving the tongue portion in a direction lengthwise oi the slots from under the crown oi the staple after the staple has been partially driven and before the driving has been completed.

20. A- stapling device 01 the class described comprising a staple driving mechanism, and means under the staple driving mechanism and over the work piece into which the staple is to be driven, said means having open-ended slots therein for guiding the legs of the staple during a portion oi the time the staple is penetratin the material into which it is driven, said slots being curved with respect to the direction in which the staple is being driven for bending the legs of the staple before they enter the work piece.

lrosnrn c. LANG.

Correction January 8, 1946.

JOSEPH O. LANG It is hereby certified that errors appear in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 3, first column, line 54, for surface read swY'aces page 4, second column, line 34, claim 1, after driven" insert a comma; line 52,

c aim 2 for taps read tops' e 5 first column line 10 claim 4 for "to before same" load the; line 22, clainl t ior driven read driver; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with these corrections therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Oifice.

Signed and sealed this 7th day of May, A. D. 1946.

cut]

LESLIE FRAZER,

First Assistant Commissioner of Patents. 

